BMX riders showed their stuff on the dual slalom course on Saturday, with Barry Nobles (Airborne Bicycles) and Jill Kintner (Red Bull/Transition Racing) topping the men's and women's pro fields at the 2013 USA Cycling Gravity Mountain Bike National Championships. In addition, six other Stars-and-Stripes jerseys were awarded in amateur categories in dual slalom.
Nobles entered today's competition as the highest seeded pro male rider, followed by fellow BMX pro Mike Day at number two, earning both a first-round bye. In the semi-final, Nobles squared off against Walker Shaw (Specialized Gravity USA), who earlier overcame his brother, Luca Shaw (Specialized Gravity USA), in the quarterfinals.
Nobles advanced to the finals to face Cody Johnson. Johnson, who was the 14th seed after crashing hard in qualifying yesterday, outraced Day in their semi-final. Day crashed in the second heat of the semi and was unable to ride in the consolation heats, meaning Shaw took third.
"I had a good split in the first [heat]. I almost got the full differential," said Nobles. "I think I started pacing myself a little too much [in the second run]. I knew as long as I could stay close to Cody - he's an awesome rider - so as long as I could finish behind him I would make it. It played out in my favor." Nobles was able to finish close enough in the second heat to claim his first mountain bike Stars-and-Stripes jersey.
Kintner squared off against Christen Boyer in a two-rider pro women's race. The 2008 Olympic bronze medalist in BMX got off to a fast start, beating Boyer by the maximum differential in the first heat. Kintner won the second heat to solidify her claim to the top step of the podium.
In the juniors men's 14 & under race, Brad Stover advanced through the four rounds to earn the win. Warren Kniss overcame higher seeded riders in each of the three rounds of the juniors men's 15-18 category 1 race to take the gold medal.
Downhill finals on Sunday
The 2013 Gravity MTB Nationals conclude Sunday at the Angel Fire Resort in New Mexico with the downhill competitions. Qualifying runs for three categories were held today. Defending national champion Aaron Gwin (Specialized Racing DH) posted the fastest time of the day and will be the final starter in the pro men's field. Kintner had the top time in the pro women's field and Jay Fesperman (Yeti Cycles) will be the one to beat in the junior men's 17-18 race.
Full Results
Elite men| 1 | Barry Nobles | | |
| 2 | Cody Johnson | | |
| 3 | Walker Shaw | | |
| 4 | Michael Day | | |
| 5 | Luca Shaw | | |
| 6 | Cody Kelley | | |
| 7 | Mikey Haderer | | |
| 8 | Joshua Patton (Lindsey Wilson College) | | |
| 9 | Blake Carney | | |
| 10 | Lear Miller | | |
| 11 | Anthony Marino | | |
| 12 | Harrison Ory | | |
| 13 | Paul Mcsparin | | |
| 14 | Matson Hunter | | |
Elite women| 1 | Jill Kintner (RedBull/ Transition Racing) | | |
| 2 | Christen Boyer | | |
Cat. 1 Junior men 15-18| 1 | Warren Kniss | | |
| 2 | Tyler Krenek | | |
| 3 | Luca Cometti | | |
| 4 | William O'brien | | |
| 5 | Alden Volle (R4AC Cycling Project) | | |
| 6 | Niko Kilik | | |
Junior men 14 & under| 1 | Brad Stover | | |
| 2 | Devin Kjaer | | |
| 3 | Joseph Foresta | | |
| 4 | Shawn Yakovich | | |
| 5 | David Kahn (Danny's Cycles) | | |
| 6 | Cedar Palmer | | |
| 7 | Garret Kniss | | |
| 8 | Sam Morris | | |
| 9 | Logan Mcphie | | |
| 10 | Dante Silva | | |
| 11 | Dylan Ramos | | |
| 12 | Phillip Steele | | |
Cat. 1 Men 19-29| 1 | Kai Rogers | | |
| 2 | Brett Tetzloff | | |
| 3 | Kyle Grau | | |
| 4 | Robert Nichols | | |
| 5 | Adam Digby | | |
| 6 | Brandon Watson | | |
| 7 | Josh Smith | | |
| 8 | Michael Allen | | |
| 9 | Scott Preston | | |
Cat. 1 Men 30-39| 1 | Will Murray | | |
| 2 | Jason Sherrill | | |
| 3 | Thomas Rodriguez | | |
Cat. 1 Men 40+| 1 | James Gillespie | | |
| 2 | Darrell Jamieson | | |
| 3 | Ian Starr | | |
| 4 | Darryl Crews | | |
Cat. 2/3 Junior men 15-18| 1 | Zachary Hutelin | | |
| 2 | Noah Wenger | | |
| 3 | Mateo Ortegon (1 - Cat3) (Cycle Youth) | | |
| 4 | Michael Kane | | |
| 5 | Triton Nelson | | |
| 6 | Brandon Olson | | |
Cat. 2/3 Men 19-29| 1 | Dustin Slaughter | | |
| 2 | Juan Delcastillo (1 - Cat3) | | |
| 3 | Jake Rehfeld | | |
| 4 | Jay Weingardt | | |
| 5 | James Lucchesi (2 - Cat3) (University of California-Santa Barbara) | | |
| 6 | Dustin Mason (3 - Cat3) | | |
Cat. 2/3 Men 30-39| 1 | Coy Miller (Bike Surgeon/Continental Tire) | | |
| 2 | Allen Weber | | |
| 3 | Jay Thomas | | |
Cat. 2/3 Men 40+| 1 | Doug Cheney | | |
| 2 | F. John Pieper (1 - Cat3) | | |
| 3 | William Dale | | |
| 4 | Clint Bullock | | |
| 5 | James Wenger | | |
| 6 | Bj Ungvarsky | | |
Cat. 1/2/3 women| 1 | Sophia Foresta (1 - Cat3) | | |
| 2 | Aurelie Cannella (2 - Cat3) | | |
| 3 | Leila Carrillo (Fort Lewis College) | | |
| 4 | Mckenna Merten | | |
| 5 | Laura Batson (3 - Cat3) | | |
| 6 | Rachel Weaver | | |
| 7 | Mya Ramos (4 - Cat3) | | |
| 8 | Corrine Miller (Bike Surgeon/Continental Tire) | | |
| 9 | Deanne Gabriel (5 - Cat3) | | |
| 10 | Judi Mumm (6 - Cat3) (High Desert Bicycles Team) | | |